David Miliband: I and my hon. Friend, the Minister for Local Environment, Marine and Animal Welfare represented the United Kingdom at this month's Agriculture and Fisheries Council in Luxembourg. Richard Lochhead, the Scottish Environment and Rural Affairs Minister, also attended.
	The Council reached unanimous political agreement on a presidency compromise proposal to reform the fruit and vegetable regime. The UK voted in favour as the reform met our negotiating objectives, including the flexibility we had sought with regards to allowing the four regions of the UK to take their own implementation decisions on inclusion of fruit and vegetables in the single payment scheme. The reform will also deliver full decoupling of the aids for products grown for processing.
	The Council also reached unanimous political agreement on a presidency compromise text, on the conclusion of the Fisheries Partnership Agreement between the EU and Greenland. The agreement provides fishing opportunities in Greenlandic waters for EU vessels including those of the UK, in return for Community funded financial contributions.
	The Council adopted a conclusion on the Commission's report on the application of system of cross-compliance.
	The Council also adopted a set of general conclusions on the Commission's communication on reducing bycatches and eliminating discards. The UK intervened to welcome the Commission's initiative, but also drew attention to the potential difficulties in finding solutions that worked in the mixed fisheries which characterised the EU situation.
	The Council formally adopted a proposal to simplify and update the current regulation on organic food and farming, following the general agreement reached on the proposal during the Finnish presidency last year.
	The Council also adopted a range of Agriculture and Fisheries "A" points: labelling requirements for veal meat; a proposal amending the common organisation of the market in cereals by the abolition of maize intervention; multi-annual management plan for North sea sole and plaice; recovery measures for European eel; and a recovery plan for bluefin tuna in the eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean. The UK could not offer its support to the compromise text on bluefin tuna. Despite voting against; the UK did manage to secure a joint Council-Commission declaration which should mean cases of overfishing are dealt with appropriately in the future.
	The Council reached political agreement by qualified majority on a presidency compromise text establishing a common organisation of agricultural markets. The proposal consolidates the existing 21 sector-specific Common Market organisations into a single horizontal regulation. The UK voted in favour of the compromise text which satisfied the UK's principal concerns.
	The Council also reached political agreement by qualified majority, with the UK voting in favour, on a set of measures to rebuild and manage the cod stocks in the Baltic sea.
	A number of issues, as follows, were raised under any other business:
	The Council took note, without discussion, of a report provided by the presidency on the outcome of the conference of directors of EU paying agency, which was held in Postsdam, Germany. The Council also took note of a written update provided by the Health and Consumer Protection Commissioner on the state of play of discussions on proposals covering the marketing of plant protection products and on the sustainable use of pesticides.
	The ten new member states currently applying the single area payment scheme expressed concerns on the implementation of the system of cross-compliance.
	The Agriculture Commissioner updated Council on progress in the WTO agricultural negotiations.
	The Fisheries Commissioner set out the Commission's initial plans for handling the setting of the total allowable catches for 2008. He highlighted the importance of involving the full range of relevant stakeholders in the decision-making process.
	Denmark expressed concerns about the operation of the existing management plan for the North sea sandeel fishery. The UK reminded the Commission about its interest, albeit limited, in the fishery and asked to be consulted when the management arrangements were reviewed.
	Finally, the UK expressed concerns regarding the continued illegal use of drift nets by a number of member states, following the ban agreed in 1992. The Commission explained that it took such illegal activity seriously and that it would make full use of its treaty powers to pursue any infringements.

Margaret Beckett: In 2006, 15 serious offences allegedly committed by people entitled to diplomatic immunity were drawn to the attention of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. "Serious Offences" are defined as offences that would, in certain circumstances, carry a penalty of 12 months or more imprisonment. Some 24,000 people are entitled to diplomatic immunity in the United Kingdom.
	The table below lists those foreign missions whose diplomats allegedly committed serious offences and the type of offence from 2002-2006.
	2002
	Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily Harm
	Nigeria 2
	Child Abuse
	Morocco 1
	Child Neglect
	Kazakhstan 1
	Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol
	Kazakhstan 2
	Russia 2
	Ukraine 2
	Azerbaijan 1
	Commonwealth Secretariat 1
	Germany 1
	Ghana 1
	Nigeria 1
	Panama 1
	Rwanda 1
	Facilitating Illegal Immigration
	Germany 1
	Murder
	Colombia 1
	Rape
	Morocco 1
	Public Order & Making False Declarations
	Greece 1
	2003
	Activities Inconsistent with Diplomatic Status (Bribery)
	Saudi Arabia 1
	Driving under the Influence of Alcohol
	Algeria 1
	Bolivia 1
	Bulgaria 1
	Commonwealth Secretariat 1
	Italy 1
	Kuwait 1
	Mexico 1
	* Other 1
	Russia 1
	Rwanda 1
	Sierra Leone 1
	Ukraine 1
	Indecent Assault
	South Africa 1
	Morocco 1
	Possession of an Offensive Weapon
	Libya 1
	2004
	Arranging Sham Marriages
	Nigeria 1
	Driving under the Influence of Alcohol
	Angola 1
	Austria 1
	Luxembourg 1
	Mozambique 1
	Serbia and Montenegro 1
	Spain 1
	Indecent Assault
	Congo 1
	Saudi Arabia 1
	Indecent Assault on Child
	Saudi Arabia 1
	Robbery and Assault
	Angola 1
	2005
	Actual Bodily Harm
	Jordan 1
	Assault (Domestic Violence)
	Saudi Arabia 1
	Dangerous Driving
	Turkey 1
	Driving under the Influence of Alcohol
	Angola 1
	Egypt 1
	Ghana 1
	Lebanon 1
	Peru 1
	Russia 1
	Saudi Arabia 1
	Harassment
	Turkey 1
	Theft (Shoplifting)
	Egypt 1
	Equatorial Guinea 1
	Zambia 1
	Theft and Robbery (of Motor Vehicle, Driving without Insurance)
	South Africa 1
	2006
	Attempted Robbery
	South Africa 1
	Deception (Going Equipped to Commit)
	Nigeria 1
	Driving under the Influence of Alcohol
	Kazakhstan 2
	Belarus 1
	Côte d'Ivoire 1
	Kuwait 1
	Malawi 1
	Oman 1
	Saudi Arabia 1
	South Africa 1
	Driving without Insurance
	Pakistan 1
	Failure to Stop for Police/Driving without Insurance and License
	Kazakhstan 1
	Robbery
	South Africa 1
	Theft (Obtaining Property by Deception)
	Ghana 1
	* This name has been withheld because the number of diplomatic personnel in the mission concerned is so small that disclosure would lead to the identification of the individual concerned. This in turn would breach the data protection rights of that individual, in particular, the first data protection principle, namely, that personal data should be processed fairly. This is because the offences are only alleged to have been committed and have not been proven in a court of law. In these circumstances, Section 40 (2) and (3) of the Freedom of Information Act confer an absolute exemption on disclosure of this information.

Harriet Harman: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence and I wish to make the following statement to the House about the inquests of servicemen and women who have died overseas where jurisdiction has been assumed by the Oxfordshire coroner, Nicholas Gardiner, and the Wiltshire and Swindon coroner, David Masters.
	All casualties suffered by the UK armed forces are a source of profound regret. UK service personnel have put their lives on the line to help build strong, stable and democratic nations and protect the interests of the United Kingdom and we cannot pay high enough tribute to the job they are doing, or the sacrifice some of them have made. We are committed to assisting the families of UK service personnel who have died on operations overseas when their loved ones are returned to the UK.
	We made statements to the House on 5 June 2006, Official Report, column 4WS; 12 October 2006, Official Report, column 26WS; 18 December 2006, Official Report, column 112WS and 29 March 2007, Official Report, column 121WS, with information about the conduct of inquests by the Oxfordshire coroner and today we are announcing progress which has been made since the written ministerial statement in March.
	Background
	Coroners are independent judicial officers appointed and paid for by the relevant local authority. Their officers and staff are employed by the local authority and/or the police.
	Each death of a serviceman or woman killed in an operation overseas whose body is repatriated to England and Wales is subject to an inquest. The inquest, both the investigation into the death and the holding of the public hearing into the death, is conducted by the coroner with jurisdiction which derives from where the body lies.
	In the case of deaths of servicemen and women whose bodies were flown into Brize Norton military airbase until it could no longer be used for repatriations on 31 March 2007, the Oxfordshire coroner has initial jurisdiction. In the case of deaths of servicemen and women whose bodies have been flown into Lyneham military airbase since 1 April 2007, the Wiltshire and Swindon coroner has initial jurisdiction.
	The coroner has powers under the Coroners Act 1988 to transfer jurisdiction to another coroner while the body is still lying within his district and with the consent of the other coroner. Since late December 2006 the Oxfordshire coroner's practice was to transfer jurisdiction to coroners closer to the next of kin wherever possible; this practice has been continued by the Wiltshire and Swindon coroner since 1 April 2007.
	Progress with the Remaining Inquests
	At the time of the March written ministerial statement, 56 inquests had been held, 46 into the deaths of servicemen and 10 into the deaths of civilians in Iraq whose bodies were repatriated via RAF Brize Norton.
	A further 16 inquests have been held into the deaths of servicemen, making a total of 72 inquests which have been held since June 2006.
	Of these 72 inquests the Oxfordshire coroner, Nicholas Gardiner, has conducted five, Assistant Deputy Oxfordshire coroner Sir Richard Curtis six, Assistant Deputy Oxfordshire coroner Selena Lynch 28, Assistant Deputy Oxfordshire coroner Andrew Walker 32 and the Greater Manchester West Coroner Jennifer Leeming one.
	Oxfordshire Coroner's Jurisdiction
	There remain 11 inquests to be concluded into the deaths of service personnel in military conflicts and exercises overseas and four inquests into the deaths of civilians who lost their lives in Iraq and whose bodies were repatriated to Brize Norton before 16 May 2006. This includes the death of a serviceman on an exercise in California in December 2005, details of which we have recently been advised by the coroner.
	The oldest outstanding military inquest in the Oxfordshire coroner's jurisdiction is the inquest into the death of Corporal Allbutt on 25 March 2003 which will be heard on 29 June 2007. The oldest outstanding civilian death inquest in the Oxfordshire coroner's jurisdiction is the inquest into the death of Antonio Jose Monteiro Abelha on 22 June 2006. This inquest will be heard on 13 July 2007.
	The four outstanding civilian inquests all have a hearing date. All but one of the outstanding inquests into servicemen's deaths before 16 May 2006 have a hearing date and these inquests are due to be heard by the end of October 2007. The MOD recently determined that there should be a board of inquiry in the case of Lieutenant Palmer who died on 28 February 2006. His inquest will not be heard until 2008.
	Of the 66 more recent cases since 16 May 2006, and which have been repatriated via Brize Norton, the Oxfordshire coroner has retained jurisdiction in 50 cases and has transferred 16 inquests to other coroners with jurisdiction closer to the next of kin of which one inquest has been held. Of those retained by the Oxfordshire coroner, pre-inquest hearing dates have been set in 17 cases, hearing dates set in nine cases and progress made in the remainder. Of the 15 inquests which have been transferred to other coroners, progress has been made and dates set for three inquests.
	Wiltshire and Swindon Coroner's Jurisdiction
	There remain 10 inquests into fatalities which were repatriated via RAF Lyneham prior to 16 May 2006. These relate to the deaths of 10 crew members who died together in the crash of Hercules XV179 on 30 January 2005. The coroner held a pre inquest hearing in February 2007 and hopes to fix a date for the inquest after a further pre-inquest hearing in July and August.
	A further 22 inquests relating to deaths since 16 May 2006 fall within the jurisdiction of the Wiltshire and Swindon coroner. Of these the Wiltshire and Swindon coroner has transferred or is in the process of transferring 12 inquests to other coroners with jurisdiction closer to the next of kin. A further inquest has been heard by the Liverpool coroner, André Rebello.
	We are very grateful for the efforts of all the coroners involved in conducting these inquests.
	We shall continue to keep the House informed on a quarterly basis about progress through the remaining inquests. I have placed a table in the Library which outlines the status of all cases and the date of death of each case. Copies are also available in the Vote Office and the Printed Paper Office.
	Liaison with the Next of Kin
	It is of the greatest importance that the next of kin have full information about the progress on the inquest of their deceased next of kin.
	In order to further improve the service to families, I invited to meet me on 4 December 2006 the families of service personnel who died in Iraq whose inquests had been held. We are grateful to the 17 relatives of the 12 deceased servicemen and women who gave us the benefit of their views and experiences so as to improve the inquest system for the benefit of future families of members of the armed service who die abroad.
	Following that meeting we have been working on better supporting bereaved military families. My right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Ministry of Defence (Mr. Adam Ingram) issued a written ministerial statement on 7 June, Official Report, column 26WS giving details of the support which is now being provided.